dramaturgy

[ drah-muh-tur-jee, dram-uh- ]

noun

1. the craft and techniques of dramatic composition.

dramaturgy

/ ˈdræməˌtɜːdʒɪ /

noun

1. the art and technique of the theatre; dramatics

Derived Forms

• ˌdramaˈturgic, adjective
• ˌdramaˈturgically, adverb

Other Words From

• dram·a·tur·gic [drah-m, uh, -, tur, -jik, dram-, uh, -], dram·a·tur·gi·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dramaturgy¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; from Greek drāmatourgía “dramatic composition,” equivalent to drāmaturg(ós) “playwright” + -ia -y ³; dramatic, -urgy

Example Sentences

Professor Fuchs specialized in dramaturgy, or the construction of a play, including its dramatic structure, its characters’ motivations and technical issues about set design and lighting.

From New York Times

At Mu, we started a fellowship program where all our shows have directing, design, acting, dramaturgy, stage management fellows — it’s on-the-job training; we’re paying them to train.

From Los Angeles Times

This is actually a broader phenomenon that sociologist Erving Goffman identified called “dramaturgy.”

From Salon

“Jack hath not Jill” — which if true enough to life, is way too sudden for dramaturgy.

From New York Times

“Basically, I just learned what dramaturgy was by sitting in the room with directors,” he said, by “making mistakes and giving notes and being told to shut up.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• comedy
• farce
• melodrama
• play
• production
• scene
• show
• theater
• tragedy